In the study of the White family, the atmosphere was a bit dignified.
Colin and Maester Dawn sat opposite each other without speaking.
Only the faint sound of burning candles was heard.
After a while, it was Maester Dawn who broke the awkward silence:
"Master Viscount, I have no malice towards the northern border. Moreover, the Duke of St. Hilde knew very well that I was sent to the northern border by the royal family, but he still trusts me."
Colin believed that Maester Dawn was telling the truth.
After all, Bachelor Dawn has not concealed his identity from beginning to end. He is the second son of the White family, and the White family is also the vassal of the San Lorenzo family.
Therefore, when he went to serve the Duke of St. Hilde, with the prudence and ability of the Duke of St. Hilde, he must have figured out the background of Bachelor Dawn, otherwise he would not have taken it so seriously.
"Then why are you going to the northern border?" Colin asked the doubts he had always had in his heart.
It stands to reason that Maester Dawn should serve for the lord of his family—the San Lorenzo family, instead of running to the northern border and suffering possible suspicion.
"You may not know that the St. Hilde family and the San Lorenzo family have always been allies in the fight against the church."
"Oh?" Ke Lin's heart moved slightly, and he suddenly thought of the great change of the empire three hundred years ago.
Bachelor Dawn continued to explain: "The Duke of St. Hilde died too suddenly, and he didn't have time to inform his heir, so even Miss Vera didn't know about it, but if you ask the Marquis of Garcia, he will definitely Give you an affirmative answer."
"What are the main forces in your alliance against the church?"
"The most important thing is actually the two major forces—the Crimson Flame Territory and the Northern Territory."
Ke Lin was startled, leaned forward slightly, and asked, "Could it be that the other three realms are all church forces?"
"No." Bachelor Dawn shook his head and said, "Only the Eastern Region is a hard-core church force, and you must be aware that almost every Duke of the Eastern Region will marry a priest as his wife. They are the strongest support of the church in the secular world. By.
The southern border has always maintained neutrality, neither favoring the church nor maintaining a certain distance from the royal family. In recent years, the trend of independence has become more and more obvious. What will happen in the future... It's hard to say.
As for the western region, since they are facing the most dangerous enemy of the empire—the orcs, they have been longing for military assistance. Therefore, their strategy is vacillating, and it is more of an excuse to ask for support from the royal family or the church. reliable ally.
Moreover, because of this generation of Dukes of the West Region, they are more inclined to the church. "
"Why?" Colin suddenly wondered, "If I remember correctly, the Duke of the West Region of this generation is a paladin, right?"
"That's right. There are two living paladins in the Glorious Empire, Prince Lehi and Duke St. Grian." Maester Dawn's eyes flickered, and he suddenly asked a question that seemed irrelevant, "Master Viscount, what do you have? Haven't thought about why Prince Lehi and His Majesty the Emperor have not dealt with each other?"
Ke Lin originally wanted to say, this is not a matter of course. Anyone who becomes an emperor will be afraid of a prince who is above him in terms of prestige and force.
But immediately, he thought of the scene in the Cathedral of Holy Light today. When Queen Midella proposed to dissect the body of the Consul of Lytom, the strongest objection was not Prince Lech, but Pope Gregor. Rui!
"Could it be that Prince Lech is close to the church?"
"That's right!" Bachelor Dawn nodded, "So you should understand why His Majesty the Emperor must expel Prince Lexie. With Prince Lexie in Yulong City, San Lorenzo's line cannot form a synergy. This coalition against the Church will exist in name only."
Colin then became puzzled again: "As the guardian of the San Lorenzo family, why did Prince Lexi get close to the church? And what does this have to do with the Duke of the Westland's preference for the church?"
Bachelor Dawn took a deep breath, and said in a concentrated voice: "Master Viscount, in fact, all paladins will favor the church!"
"Why?" Colin shuddered, realizing that this might be the crux of the problem.
"Because once a paladin is injured, he must rely on the healing skills of a high-level priest to recover. And this is the key method for the church to control the highest-level combat power of the human race!"
Colin suddenly thought of the Bishop of Winter City who died suddenly at the beginning of this year, and asked, "Then after the Duke of St. Hilde was injured in a fight with a troll paladin..."
"After the Duke was injured, he found Bishop Jean and Archbishop Raven, hoping to be treated, but Archbishop Raven took the opportunity to blackmail the Duke, hoping to make the northern border fall to the side of the church.
However, the Duke did not want to be coerced by the church, and forced Archbishop Raven to perform healing techniques for him. After the other party refused, the Duke brazenly shot and killed Bishop Jean, and Archbishop Raven succumbed. "
Colin was slightly taken aback, and secretly sighed that the Duke of St. Hilde was really ruthless.
"Then Archbishop Raven was later dismissed by the church, was it because of this incident?"
"Yes. After the church knew that the Duke had been promoted to a paladin, the church had been trying every means to win over the Northern Territory, but the Duke did not give in immediately. He did not want to become a puppet of the church.
In fact, His Excellency's injury was very serious, and Archbishop Ruiwen's treatment alone was not enough. It was for this reason that even though His Excellency had not turned to the church, the emperor no longer trusted his allies as before.
He was worried that the Duke of St. Hilde would fall to the church sooner or later, because it was impossible for the Duke to let his injury worsen day by day. "
Ke Lin nodded, and only then did he understand why the emperor connived at Mr. Ji's disturbance in the Northern Territory, and even tacitly allowed him to use the "eye of judgment" to kill his eldest brother-in-law.
If the east, west, and north all fall to the church, how can the majesty of the royal family be maintained
The Church will really become the de facto ruler of the Glorious Empire.
Colin's heart was heavy, and he said with some frustration: "If all paladins fall to the church, then I don't think the royal family has any chance of winning..."
But Bachelor Dawn shook his head and said, "Master Viscount, you are wrong to think so."
"Oh why?"
"What a proud existence paladins are, how could they be willing to be manipulated and coerced by the church with this method
The Duke of St. Hilde suffered such a serious injury, even though he was suspected by the emperor and coerced by the archbishop, he did not fall to the church until his death.
If it wasn't for the fact that he was born in a collateral branch of the San Lorenzo family, Prince Lexi was not valued when he was a child, and most of the cultivation resources were funded by the church, he would not be willing to become a thug of the church.
As for the Duke of St. Grian in the western region, he was often injured due to the threat from the orcs. Without the healing skills of the church, he would not be able to last for so long. Therefore, he has no choice but to favor the church at present.
But I believe that if the royal family and the church are torn apart, there is a high probability that Prince Lech and Duke St. Grian will not help the church! "
Colin thought about it, and felt that what Dawn said made sense.
No paladin is willing to be coerced by the church, even if he submits to the church on the surface, he will not submit sincerely.
Seeing that Colin was lost in thought, Bachelor Dawn asked again: "Master Viscount, do you know at what age was His Majesty Garner, the founding emperor of the Glorious Empire, when he passed away?"
"Well... I just remember that he seemed to be quite young when he passed away."
"That's right. His Majesty Garner died young at the age of fifty-seven!"
Colin immediately realized that there was a problem.
How could a legendary paladin pass away so early.
"Could it be because of the church?"
"Yes. His Majesty Ghana has fought all his life. Even if his strength is superior, he will inevitably be injured. When the relationship between the royal family and the church is harmonious, this is of course not a problem.
But later, when His Majesty Ghana began to deliberately limit the power of the church, the Pope immediately forbade priests to use healing techniques on His Majesty and even the paladins who were unwilling to cooperate.
This also led to the deterioration of His Majesty Garner's injuries, but even so, His Majesty Garner did not surrender to the church until his death.
Therefore, in fact, this is a secret war that has lasted from the founding of the country to the present. The royal family hopes that the church will only become a spiritual symbol, without retaining the army, and not getting involved in secular government affairs.
But obviously, the church is not satisfied with this. They wanted to be the uncrowned kings of the empire, and they wanted the emperor and nobles to be their marionettes.
Therefore, this confrontation will continue.
And the northern border is the key to the current contention between the two sides!
Moreover, you may not realize that you, who defeated the Pegasus Legion in the Eastern Realm, are also the object that the royal family is trying to win over. "
Ke Lin nodded, and only then did he understand why the emperor asked the prince and princess to worship him as a teacher in the carriage today.
This is to make him a sharp sword in the hands of the royal family, leading the army of the northern border to attack the eastern border that has already completely fallen to the church.
Colin fell silent.
In fact, he didn't want to get involved in the struggle for power between the royal family and the church.
He had no ill feeling towards the church, nor did he feel much loyalty to the royal family.
If he wanted to make him a pawn in the attack, Colin would not be easily fooled.
Unless, profitable…
"I understand." Colin smiled, stood up and said, "Thank you for helping me answer a lot of doubts. The situation in the Glorious Empire is no longer shrouded in fog for me."
"It's my pleasure!"
"Okay, I'm going back to rest. I understand that I have to accompany Vera to the Senate."
"Okay, Lord Viscount, I'll see you off."
Bachelor Dawn sent Colin all the way to the gate, and just waved goodbye, but Colin suddenly turned around and asked with a smile:
"Dawn, are you loyal to the northern border or to the royal family?"
Bachelor Dawn was stunned, glanced at Colin, and then replied solemnly:
"I am loyal to the Glorious Empire!"
Colin glanced at Maester Dawn in surprise, and seemed to understand something, but he didn't comment on it, just smiled, turned and left.
(end of this chapter)